Twist Comb Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A twist comb apparatus includes a handle and a comb head, where the handle and the comb head are either removably attached to each other or permanently connected to each other. The handle provides a surface area for the users so that the users can grip the twist comb apparatus, where the comb head allows the users to create dreadlocks as the comb head is rotated 360 degrees by a power button. The rotating motion of the comb head replicates the twisting action that is a part of the process of forming dreadlocks so that the user can easily create dreadlocks. The comb head is rotated by a motor, where the motor is powered from a power source though the power button as the power button allows the users to fully control the comb head.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patentapplication Ser. No. 61/714,355 filed on Oct. 16, 2012.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a hair styling apparatus.Specifically, the present invention is a comb that rotates 360 degreesto twist hair. The present invention provides users with a tool that iscapable of twisting hair to form the hairstyle commonly known asdreadlocks. The present invention is a comb attached to a handlefeaturing a button that the user may press to rotate the comb 360degrees. Hair is threaded between the teeth of the comb before use. Theuser may then press and hold the button to rotate the comb and duplicatethe process of twisting hair to form dreadlocks. Comb heads areinterchangeable to provide flexibility and to allow the user to attachcombs of various sized teeth and spacing between teeth. The presentinvention is accommodating of the individual hairstyle needs of allusers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dreadlocks are a form of hairstyle influenced by culture, religion, andcontemporary pop culture. The hairstyle has been worn throughout thecourse of history and is still popular today. Salons are capable ofproviding treatments to hair that is normally not accommodating to thenatural forming of dreadlocks such as Asian or Caucasian hair. Althoughdreadlocks are a popular and distinctive hairstyle, the process offorming individual dreadlocks by hand is an arduous and time-consumingtask. The process of twisting strands of hair to form dreadlocks beforeapplying product to set and hold the newly formed dreadlocks can oftentake upwards of six hours. In addition to being time-consuming,individually twisting each dreadlock by hand can be physicallyburdensome to one's fingers. The present invention seeks to expedite andfacilitate the process of twisting hair into dreadlocks.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide userswith a tool that is capable of replicating the twisting of hair by hand.The present invention is useful as it reduces the lengthy amount of timethat is normally required to twist hair into dreadlocks by hand.Additionally, as the present invention is twisting the hair instead ofthe user's hands, the user is able to avoid fatigue in their fingers.The present invention features a motor-driven rotating shaft that isattached to a comb. The user's hair is threaded between the teeth of thecomb and the user presses a button to rotate the comb. The comb iscapable of rotating 360 degrees and replicates the twisting action thatis a part of the process of forming dreadlocks. The present inventionallows hair to be twisted into dreadlocks more quickly than if theprocess is done by hand. Additionally, because the user is only requiredto press and hold a button to operate the device, any physical burden onthe hands and fingers is avoided. The comb heads of the presentinvention are interchangeable to accommodate the individual hairstyleneeds of all users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, showing the first configuration of the comb head.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, showing the first configuration of the comb head.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the present invention that illustrates theremovable attachment in between the first configuration of the comb headand the handle, showing the plane upon which a cross sectional view istaken shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a cross section view thereof taken along line B-B of FIG. 3,showing the components of the attachment mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, showing the first configuration of the comb head.

FIG. 6 is a front exploded view of the present invention thatillustrates the removable attachment in between the first configurationof the comb head and the handle, showing the plane upon which a crosssectional view is taken shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a cross section view thereof taken along line A-A of FIG. 6,showing the components of the attachment mechanism.

FIG. 8 is basic illustration showing the components of the rotatingmechanism of the present invention, wherein the comb head and handle areremovably attached to each other.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the present invention that illustrates thepermanent connection in between the first configuration of the comb headand the handle, showing the plane upon which a cross sectional view istaken shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a cross section view thereof taken along line A-A of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is basic illustration showing the components of the rotatingmechanism of the present invention, wherein the comb head and handle arepermanently connected to each other.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the present invention, showing thesecond configuration of the comb head.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the present invention, showing thefirst configuration of the comb head with the first alternativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the present invention, showing thesecond configuration of the comb head with the second alternativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a basic illustration showing the electrical connects of thepresent invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describingselected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limitthe scope of the present invention.

The present invention is a hairstyling apparatus that utilizes to createdreadlocks. In reference to FIG. 1, the present invention comprises ahandle 1 and a comb head 15. The handle 1 and the comb head 15 areeither removably assembled by an attachment mechanism or permanentlyconnected to each other so that the present invention can be used bylocticians to crate dreadlocks within the hairstyling industry.

The handle 1 of the present invention comprises a base member 2, alateral wall 3, a top member 7, an alignment rim 8, an attachment hole9, a rotating mechanism 10, and a power button 14. The base member 2 isperimetrically attached with the lateral wall 3 and concentricallypositioned with the lateral wall 3. The base member 2 allows the presentinvention to be vertically rested on a flat resting surface as theexterior surface of the base member 2 comprises a flat surface. Eventhough the base member 2 and the later wall are preferably shaped into acircular-shape within the present invention, the base member 2 and thelater wall can also be shaped into any other geometric shapes, such as arectangular-shape, a triangular-shape, or a hexagon-shape. The topmember 7 is perimetrically connected with the lateral wall 3, where thetop member 7 is concentrically and oppositely positioned with the basemember 2 along the lateral wall 3. The alignment rim 8 is adjacentlypositioned atop the top member 7 and concentrically positioned with thetop member 7. The attachment hole 9 is concentrically positioned withinthe alignment rim 8 in such way that the attachment hole 9 traversesinto the interior of the handle 1 through the top member 7.

Hairstyling products typically used in the creation of dreadlocks areslippery and create some level of difficulty for the user to properlyhandle 1 the present invention. As a solution, the lateral wall 3 whichallows the users to grip the present invention is separated into twodifferent sections in such way that the lateral wall 3 comprises a topsection 4 and a bottom section 5. The top section 4 is adjacentlypositioned with the top member 7, and the bottom section 5 is adjacentlypositioned with the base member 2. The bottom section 5 of the presentinvention is covered with different exterior features so that thedifferent exterior features of the handle 1 allow the user to utilizethe present invention without worrying about dropping or otherwisemishandling the device.

In its preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bottom section5 comprises a grip sleeve 6 as the exterior surface, and the grip sleeve6 is preferably made from rubberized materials to enhance the frictionof the handle 1. In reference to FIG. 2, the grip sleeve 6 isperimetrically connected to the bottom section 5 in such way that thegrip sleeve 6 is radially positioned around the bottom section 5 fromthe top section 4 to the base member 2. The grip sleeve 6 of thepreferred embodiment can also be either a textured grip or anon-textured grip. In reference to FIG. 13, a first alternativeembodiment of the present invention, the bottom section 5 comprises aplurality of grooves 20. More specifically, the plurality of grooves 20is radially positioned around the bottom section 5 in such way that theplurality of grooves 20 is linearly extended in between the base member2 and the top section 4. The plurality of grooves 20 provides similarbenefits to those provided by the rubberized grip sleeve 6 as the userscan utilize a more secure grip on the present invention. In reference toFIG. 14, a second alternative embodiment of the present invention, thebottom section 5 comprises a plurality of ribs 21. More specifically,the plurality of ribs 21 is radially positioned around the bottomsection 5 in such way that the plurality of ribs 21 is linearly extendedin between the base member 2 and the top section 4. These differentexterior features of the present invention provide different typeshandles 1 for the users of the present invention so that the users canselect the desired handle 1 which suits their preference.

In reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the base member 2, the lateral wall3, the top member 7, the alignment rim 8, and the attachment hole 9 ofthe present invention create the casing of the handle 1 as the casinghouses the rotating mechanism 10. The power button 14 is externallypositioned on the lateral wall 3 in such way that the power button 14 isadjacently positioned with the top member 7. More specifically, thepower button 14 is positioned on the top section 4 of the lateral wall3. The power button 14 allows the users of the present invention tocontrol the rotating mechanism 10 so that the users can easily rotatethe comb head 15 360 degrees.

In reference to FIG. 5, the comb head 15 comprises a comb shaft 16, aproximal end 17, a distal end 18, and at least one comb tooth 19. Thecomb head 15 is available in a variety of shapes and sizes with regardto the at least one comb tooth 19 and spacing in between each of the atleast one comb tooth 19. The proximal end 17 and the distal end 18 areoppositely positioned each other along the comb shaft 16, where theproximal end 17 and the distal end 18 are the extremities of the combshaft 16. The at least one comb tooth 19 is linearly and perpendicularlyextended from the comb shaft 16 and adjacently positioned with thedistal end 18. As for the first configuration of the comb head 15, theat least one comb tooth 19 of the present invention comprises multiplecomb teeth. As shown in FIG. 5, the multiple comb teeth are formed in alinear formation in such way that the multiple comb teeth are extendedfrom the distal end 18 and toward the proximal end 17. The length foreach of the multiple comb teeth is different from each other as thelength incrementally increases within the multiple comb teeth, and thecomb head 15 may vary with regard to teeth size and spacing in betweenthe multiple comb teeth. As for the second configuration of the combhead 15, the at least one comb tooth 19 of the present inventioncomprises only a single comb tooth. In reference to FIG. 12, the singlecomb tooth is adjacently positioned with the distal end 18 of the combhead 15. The diameter of the proximal end 17 is slightly smaller thanthe diameter of the alignment rim 8 and the attachment hole 9 so thatthe proximal end 17 can traverse through the attachment rim and into theattachment hole 9 either to removably attach the handle 1 and the combhead 15 or to permanently connect the handle 1 and the comb head 15.Whether the present invention utilizes a permanent connection or aremovable attachment in between the comb head 15 and the handle 1, theproximal end 17 is concentrically positioned within the alignment rim 8and the attachment hole 9.

In reference to FIG. 3-FIG. 8, when the handle 1 and the comb head 15are removably attached to each other by the attachment mechanism, therotating mechanism 10, which is positioned within the base member 2, thelateral wall 3, and the top member 7, comprises a locking sleeve 11, amotor 12, and a power source 13. More specifically, the locking sleeve11 is adjacently positioned with the top member 7, and the power source13 is adjacently positioned with the base member 2. The motor 12 ispositioned in between the locking sleeve 11 and the power source 13. Thelocking sleeve 11 is axially connected with the motor 12 in such waythat the motor 12 provides rotational motion to the locking sleeve 11when the motor 12 is powered through the power source 13 and the powerbutton 14. In order to complete the removable attachment in between thecomb head 15 and the handle 1, the proximal end 17 is removably attachedwith the locking sleeve 11 through the attachment mechanism so that therotation motion of the locking sleeve 11 can be transferred into thecomb head 15. The attachment mechanism of the present invention caninclude, but is not limited to, a pressure fit attachment system, a snapfit attachment system, a twist and lock attachment system, and amagnetic attachment system. The proximal end 17 is designed in a mannersuch that the comb shaft 16 can engage and lock with the locking sleeve11 of the rotating mechanism 10 through the attachment mechanism. Theusers may apply force to ensure that the handle 1 and the comb head 15are securely locked together. The attachment mechanism allows the combhead 15 to simultaneously rotate with the locking sleeve 11 as the motor12 rotates the rotating shaft. The attachment mechanism also facilitatesthe use of interchangeable comb heads 15 that may be quickly removed andattached to the handle 1. For example, the attachment mechanism allowsthe users to interchangeably use the first configuration and the secondconfiguration of the comb head 15 with the handle 1.

In the preferred embodiment, the snap fit attachment system is used asthe attachment mechanism. The snap fit attachment mechanism comprises anextruded locking rim, a plurality of extruded rails, a recessed lockingrim, and a plurality of recessed rails. The extruded locking rim is alsoradially positioned around the comb shaft 16 and adjacently positionedaway from the proximal end 17. The plurality of extruded rails isradially positioned around the comb shaft 16 and extends from theproximal end 17 to the locking rail. The recessed locking rim is alsoradially positioned within the locking sleeve 11 and positioned awayfrom the bottom of the locking sleeve 11. The plurality of recessedrails is radially positioned within the locking sleeve 11 and extendsfrom the bottom of the locking sleeve 11 to the recessed locking rim.When the comb head 15 is removably attached to the handle 1 by the snapfit attachment system, the plurality of extruded rails engages withinthe plurality of recessed rails, and the extruded locking rim snaps intothe recessed locking rim. More specifically, the plurality of extrudedrails and the plurality of recessed rails radially lock the comb head 15and the handle 1 while the extruded locking rim and the recessed lockingrim linearly lock the comb head 15 and the handle 1. As for the properfunctionality of the snap fit attachment system, the linear distance inbetween the extruded locking rim and the proximal end 17 is kept equalto the linear distance in between the recessed locking rim and thebottom of the locking sleeve 11 so that the extruded locking rim and therecessed locking rim concentrically lock in place without anyobstruction. The users may remove the comb head 15 from the handle 1 bysimply applying force in opposite direction to separate the twocomponents.

In reference to FIG. 9-FIG. 11, when the handle 1 and the comb head 15are permanently connected to each other, the rotating mechanism 10 thatpositions within the base member 2, the lateral wall 3, and the topmember 7 comprises a motor 12 and a power source 13. More specifically,the motor 12 is adjacently positioned with the top member 7, and thepower source 13 is adjacently positioned with the base member 2. Themotor 12 is axially connected with the proximal end 17 in such way thatthe rotational motion of the motor 12 can be transferred to the combhead 15 when the motor 12 is powered through the power source 13 and thepower button 14.

In reference to FIG. 15, the motor 12, preferably a direct current (DC)motor 12, is electrically connected with the power button 14, and thepower button 14 is electrically connected with the power source 13. Theelectrical connection in between the motor 12, the power button 14, andthe power source 13 compete the internal electrical circuitry of thepresent invention so that the rotating mechanism 10 can be powered fromthe power source 13 wherein the power button 14 functions as an on/offswitch and a variable speed control switch within the present invention.When the power button 14 is pressed by the users of the presentinvention, the power button 14 closes the internal electrical circuitryin such way that a power supply is traveled from power source 13 to themotor 12. Then the motor 12 is able to rotate the comb head 15 360degrees, replicating the rotational motion required to twist hair toform dreadlocks. The motor 12 continues to rotate the comb head 15 in360 degrees while the power button 14 is held down. The release of thepower button 14 halts the rotational motion of the comb head 15 as thepower button 14 opens the internal electrical circuitry. The rotationalspeed of the motor 12 is also controlled from the power button 14 as thepower button 14 functions as an accelerometer within the presentinvention, where the increasing levels of force applied to the powerbutton 14 increase the rotational speed of the comb head 15. Forexamples, if a user applies small amount of pressure on the power button14, the motor 12 will rotate with a slow rotational speed. If the userapplies large amount of pressure on the power button 14, the motor 12will rotate with a fast rotational speed. The power of the presentinvention can be either a plurality of batteries or an alternatingcurrent (AC) power supply with a rectifier.

In its preferred embodiment, the present invention utilizes theplurality of batteries as the power source 13. The plurality ofbatteries that provides a direct current (DC) power supply to the motor12 can be either disposable batteries or rechargeable batteries. Theplurality of batteries can be stored within a battery compartment of thepreferred embodiment, where the battery compartment is positioned withinthe lateral wall 3. As for the disposable batteries, the users canaccess the battery compartment through the base member 2 so that thedisposable batteries can be changed when necessary. As for therechargeable batteries, the users can recharge the rechargeablebatteries through a charger port when the power is drained from thepresent invention. The charger port, which accepts an external electriccharger in order to recharge the rechargeable batteries, is preferablypositioned on the top section 4 and electrically connected with thebattery compartment. Even though the rechargeable batteries arerecharged through the charger port, the users can also access thebattery compartment through the base member 2 so that the rechargeablebatteries can be changed when necessary. When the present invention usesthe AC power supply as the power source 13, the AC power supply from anexternal wall outlet is converted into the DC power supply through therectifier and supplied to the motor 12 through an extension cord. To usethe present invention, a user positions the device at a small distancefrom his or her hair. Strands of hair to be twisted are threaded betweenthe at least one comb tooth 19 of the comb head 15 in such way that thecomb head 15 maintains a firm grip on the hair. The user then pushes andholds down the power button 14 on the handle 1 of the present inventionto rotate the comb head 15, where only the comb head 15 rotates to twistthe user's hair to form dreadlocks. The comb head 15 rotates for as longas the user is holding down the power button 14. The rotation of thecomb head 15 replicates the hair twisting motion that is a normal stepof forming dreadlocks. The user is required to move and position thepresent invention as the hair is being twisted in order to ensure thatproper dreadlock form is being achieved during use. After a lock of hairhas been sufficiently twisted, the user may remove the device from hisor her hair and continue with the process of holding and setting thenewly formed dreadlock. The user may move on to form additionaldreadlocks with the present invention utilizing the same methoddescribed above. The user may then proceed to apply ointments or otherproduct to the hair after using the present invention to twist thestrands of hair.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A twist comb apparatus comprises: a handle; acomb head; the handle comprises a base member, a lateral wall, a topmember, an alignment rim, an attachment hole, a power button, and arotating mechanism; the rotating mechanism comprises a locking sleeve, amotor, and a power source; the comb head comprises a comb shaft and atleast one comb tooth; the comb shaft comprises a proximal end and adistal end; and the comb head being removably attached to the handle. 2.The twist comb apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the basemember being perimetrically attached with the lateral wall; the basemember being concentrically positioned with the lateral wall; the topmember being perimetrically connected with the lateral wall; the topmember being concentrically and oppositely positioned with the basemember; the alignment rim being adjacently connected atop the topmember; the alignment rim being concentrically positioned with the topmember; the attachment hole being concentrically positioned within thealignment rim; the power button being positioned on the lateral wall;and the power button being adjacently positioned with the top member. 3.The twist comb apparatus as claimed in claim 2 comprises: the lateralwall comprises a top section and a bottom section; the top section beingadjacently positioned with the top member; and the bottom section beingadjacently positioned with the base member.
 4. The twist comb apparatusas claimed in claim 3 comprises: a grip sleeve; the grip sleeve beingperimetrically connected around the bottom section; and the grip sleevebeing radially positioned around the bottom section from the top sectionto the base member.
 5. The twist comb apparatus as claimed in claim 1comprises: the rotating mechanism being positioned within the basemember, the lateral wall, and the top member; the locking sleeve beingadjacently and concentrically positioned with the top member; the powersource being adjacently positioned with the base member; the motor beingpositioned in between the locking sleeve and the power source; thelocking sleeve being axially connected with the motor; the motor beingelectrically connected with the power button; and the power button beingelectrically connected with the power source.
 6. The twist combapparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the proximal end and thedistal end being oppositely positioned from each other along the combshaft; the at least one comb tooth being linearly and perpendicularlyextended from the comb shaft; and the at least one comb tooth beingadjacently positioned with the distal end.
 7. The twist comb apparatusas claimed in claim 1 comprises: the proximal end traversing through theattachment hole from the alignment rim to the locking sleeve; theproximal end being removably attached within the locking sleeve; and theproximal end being concentrically positioned within the alignment rimand the attachment hole.
 8. A twist comb apparatus comprises: a handle;a comb head; the handle comprises a base member, a lateral wall, a topmember, an alignment rim, an attachment hole, a power button, and arotating mechanism; the rotating mechanism comprises a motor and a powersource; the comb head comprises a comb shaft and at least one combtooth; the comb shaft comprises a proximal end and a distal end; and thecomb head being permanently connected with the handle.
 9. The twist combapparatus as claimed in claim 8 comprises: the base member beingperimetrically attached with the lateral wall; the base member beingconcentrically positioned with the lateral wall; the top member beingperimetrically connected with the lateral wall; the top member beingconcentrically and oppositely positioned with the base member; thealignment rim being adjacently connected atop the top member; thealignment rim being concentrically positioned with the top member; theattachment hole being concentrically positioned within the alignmentrim; the power button being positioned on the lateral wall; and thepower button being adjacently positioned with the top member.
 10. Thetwist comb apparatus as claimed in claim 9 comprises: the lateral wallcomprises a top section and a bottom section; the top section beingadjacently positioned with the top member; and the bottom section beingadjacently positioned with the base member.
 11. The twist comb apparatusas claimed in claim 10 comprises: a grip sleeve; the grip sleeve beingperimetrically connected around the bottom section; and the grip sleevebeing radially positioned around the bottom section from the top sectionto the base member.
 12. The twist comb apparatus as claimed in claim 8comprises: the rotating mechanism being positioned within the basemember, the lateral wall, and the top member; the power source beingadjacently positioned with the base member; the motor being adjacentlypositioned with the top member; the motor being electrically connectedwith the power button; and the power button being electrically connectedwith the power source.
 13. The twist comb apparatus as claimed in claim8 comprises: the proximal end and the distal end being oppositelypositioned from each other along the comb shaft; the at least one combtooth being linearly and perpendicularly extended from the comb shaft;and the at least one comb tooth being adjacently positioned with thedistal end.
 14. The twist comb apparatus as claimed in claim 8comprises: the proximal end traversing into the attachment hole from thealignment rim; the proximal end being axially connected with the motor;and the proximal end being concentrically positioned within thealignment rim and the attachment hole.
 15. A twist comb apparatuscomprises: a handle; a comb head; the handle comprises a base member, alateral wall, a top member, an alignment rim, an attachment hole, apower button, and a rotating mechanism; the rotating mechanism comprisesa locking sleeve, a motor, and a power source; the comb head comprises acomb shaft and at least one comb tooth; the comb shaft comprises aproximal end and a distal end; the base member being perimetricallyattached with the lateral wall; the base member being concentricallypositioned with the lateral wall; the top member being perimetricallyconnected with the lateral wall; the top member being concentrically andoppositely positioned with the base member; the alignment rim beingadjacently connected atop the top member; the alignment rim beingconcentrically positioned with the top member; the attachment hole beingconcentrically positioned within the alignment rim; the power buttonbeing positioned on the lateral wall; the power button being adjacentlypositioned with the top member; the proximal end and the distal endbeing oppositely positioned from each other along the comb shaft; the atleast one comb tooth being linearly and perpendicularly extended fromthe comb shaft; the at least one comb tooth being adjacently positionedwith the distal end; and the comb head being removably attached to thehandle.
 16. The twist comb apparatus as claimed in claim 15 comprises:the lateral wall comprises a top section and a bottom section; the topsection being adjacently positioned with the top member; and the bottomsection being adjacently positioned with the base member.
 17. The twistcomb apparatus as claimed in claim 16 comprises: a grip sleeve; the gripsleeve being perimetrically connected around the bottom section; and thegrip sleeve being radially positioned around the bottom section from thetop section to the base member.
 18. The twist comb apparatus as claimedin claim 15 comprises: the rotating mechanism being positioned withinthe base member, the lateral wall, and the top member; the lockingsleeve being adjacently positioned with the top member; the power sourcebeing adjacently positioned with the base member; the motor beingpositioned in between the locking sleeve and the power source; thelocking sleeve being axially connected with the motor; the motor beingelectrically connected with the power button; and the power button beingelectrically connected with the power source.
 19. The twist combapparatus as claimed in claim 15 comprises: the proximal end traversingthrough the attachment hole from the alignment rim to the lockingsleeve; the proximal end being removably attached within the lockingsleeve; and the proximal end being concentrically positioned within thealignment rim and the locking sleeve.